Monday, June 1: World Party with Gabriel Kelly at Turner Hall Ballroom, 6:30 p.m. ($25)
Former member of The Waterboys, multi-instrumentalist Karl Wallinger formed the alt-rock band World Party in 1986, melding the sounds of his childhood musical heroes Bob Dylan and The Beatles. But after releasing five well-received albums, a brain aneurysm slowed his output to a halt in 2001. While no original album has come out since the illness, the band released the massive 5-CD, 70 song compilation Arkeoogy in 2012. (1032 N. 4th St., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Royal Blood with Mini Mansions at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($20) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
And: Ava Luna with Soul Low and Sat. Nite Duets at Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 7 p.m. ($5) – (2220 N. Terrace Ave.)
Tuesday, June 2: Aaron Lewis with JJ Eckl at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($24-$119)
Perhaps no band outside of Nickelback has felt the fierce post-grunge backlash like Staind. After its 2001 album Break The Cycle spawned the ubiquitous alternative radio hits “It’s Been Awhile,” “Outside,” “Fade” and “Four You,” the band never strayed from its simple formula and in turn, its fanbase steadily declined over the years. But alas, in order to keep his career afloat, lead singer Aaron Lewis went the way of Kid Rock and Hootie—he went country. But unlike those two predecessors who went onto huge commercial success, his 2012 album The Road was universally-panned and barely sold. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Wednesday, June 3: Glass Animals with Gilligan Moss at The Riverside Theater, 8 p.m. ($17)
Paul Epworth, the British producer behind massive UK muscians Coldplay, Adele, Paul McCartney and burgeoning stars like FKA Twigs and Foster the People, started his own record label and made his first signing the electro-pop four-piece Glass Animals. The band couldn’t live up to those lofty expectations on their debut full-length, Zaba, a glitchy, sterilized affair that sounded like a band still trying to find its style, but the Oxford chaps, nonetheless, showed some electrifying promise. (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
Also: Worriers with Caves and Rechid at Cocoon Room, 7 p.m. ($7) – (820 E. Locust St.)
Thursday, June 4: Marc Cohn with Shawn Colvin at Potawatomi’s Northern Lights Theater, 8 p.m. ($35-$45)
Two singers best known for their 90’s hits come to Potawatomi’s Northern Lights Theater on Thursday Night. The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Marc Cohn scored his biggest hit early in his career with 1991’s piano ballad “Walking in Memphis.” Shawn Colvin won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album that same year for Steady On, but her biggest hit didn’t come until six years later with “Sunny Came Home.” (1721 W. Canal St., PaysBig.com)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK5YGWS5H84
Friday, June 5: Shabazz Palaces with Eaters at The Rave, 7:30 p.m. ($13)
The Seattle-based alternative hip hop duo Shabazz Palaces consists of Ishmael Butler and Tedai Maraire (both formerly of the highly influential Digable Planets). The pair released its mysterious, ethereal debut Black Up in 2011 and returned in 2014 with the spacey, experimental follow-up, Lese Majesty. (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
Also: The Offspring with Tigernite at The Rave, 8 p.m. ($30-$114) – (2401 W. Wisconsin Ave., TheRave.com)
And: John Mellencamp with Carlene Carter at The Riverside Theater, 7:30 p.m. ($42.50-$118.50) – (116 W. Wisconsin Ave., PabstTheater.org)
Saturday, June 6: Pridefest featuring Ani DiFranco, Betty Who, Crystal Bowersox and Lex Allen at Henry Maier Festival Grounds, 12 p.m. ($13)
Pridefest kicks off the summer festival season this weekend (Friday-Sunday). Saturday’s boasts the three-day festival’s most impressive line-up, featuring the prolific folk songstress Ani DiFranco, synth pop singer Betty Who, American Idol’s 9th season runner-up Crystal Bowersox and Milwaukee’s sultry R&B singer Lex Allen. (200 N. Harbor Dr., www.pridefest.com)
Also: No No Yeah Okay with Kiings and Mike Regal at Cactus Club, 9 p.m. ($7) – (2496 S. Wentworth Ave., CactusClubMilwaukee.com)
And: Vedic Eden (album release) with Whiskey Doubles and Astral/Subastral at Club Garibaldi, 9 p.m. ($5) – (2501 S. Superior St., ClubGaribaldis.com)
Sunday, June 7: Pridefest featuring En Vogue, Josh Rouse and Ty Herndon at Henry Maier Festival Grounds, 12 p.m. ($13)
But hold on, before the week concludes, the ‘90s R&B singers En Vogue closes out Pridefest. Opening the festival are folk singer-songwriter Josh Rouse and country music star Ty Herndon. (200 N. Harbor Dr., www.pridefest.com)
